RICS (the Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors) offer professional guidance that is used by all manner of people when evaluating a knotweed infestation, among other issues. RICS are a globally recognised professional body, and they develop and enforce international standards to protect the safety and well being of customers and businesses alike.
RICS updates their guidance regularly to ensure that their advice is relevant, and one of their most recent knotweed-related updates has caused quite a stir.
Some years ago, RICS announced the implementation of the ‘7 metre rule’, which dictated that if Japanese knotweed is found to be growing within seven metres of the boundary of a property, it is likely that a mortgage will not be offered.
This policy was implemented to protect the lender against the risk that the knotweed will have an impact on the value of the property in the future. However, this policy was regarded by some as being extreme, and a report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee called the approach ‘over cautious’ and said that it led to a ‘chilling’ effect on the sale of a house.
As a result of this, in 2022, RICS announced that they were scrapping the 7-metre rule. They determined that this rule was two vague, and in many cases, too extreme. Instead, they have implemented a more subtle policy that allows surveyors to use their own professional judgement when faced with a knotweed infestation.
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Keeping up with the ever-changing guidance can be a struggle. With new policies coming and going faster than you can read them, it can be difficult to know where your property currently stands. One way to alleviate the stress is to get yourself a FREE knotweed survey from Taylor Total Weed Control, during which one of our trained professionals will come to your property and survey your knotweed infestation.
Once the knotweed survey is complete, we’ll be able to tell you whether or not you have knotweed growing on your property, where it’s located, how much there is, as well as recommending the best treatment plan for you.
Free Knotweed Survey
Read More: RICS Japanese Knotweed Categories 1-4 Explained
Is It Japanese Knotweed?